First of all "resort" is a term used rather loosely to say the least. You get what you pay for here.Bare bones ocean front room right on the Broadwalk.My wife and I have stayed here many times over the years as a local getaway.When you look out the window at the ocean especially at sunrise you can imagine yourself to be at any tropical paradise.We concider ourselves lucky to have The Sheldon as our private little secret!

The hotel in itself is an old grand resort from the 1920's that has been "retooled" many times over the years. So, it has history to it. It is not reall a resort, just a convenient and adequate place to stay. The rooms (that I saw and stayed in) have what is needed; as any time-share units would. They are way outdated as far as decor. One bedrooms are very small. The valet parking people are horrible. It is a vendor operation and have little or no service skills. I think they expect you to tell them you want the car valet parked. My guy (evening shift) actually recommended that I use self-parking. There is a small convenience store in the resort mall that is, well convenient and has just about anything at normal prices. There is Bar & Grill out back on the boardwalk, but quits serving food early. Overall, there was not much to keep us around the resort, as you would expect of a resort.

My first stay at this location goes back to the early 90's when it was a Howard Johnsons. I have always liked the place because of its very convenient location and its excellent beach front. My wife and I recently spent a week there on a vacation plan. Marriot has done a superior job of renovating and improving the facility and installing a staff who could easily run a 5 star operation. This resort compares favorably with the level of facility and staff at Marriot's flagship hotel in Times Square, New York. We would spend another week there without hesitation.

I will recommend any one considering a vacation in Ft. Lauderdale to stay at the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa. It is everything you can want in a resort hotel. Friendly professional service and a warm welcome when you arrive. The lobby smells wonderful with the Westin signature smell. I've stayed in quite a few hotels on this strip namely; Trump sonesta resort and spa, M Hotel(formerly le Meridian), Marriott harbor beach resort, Ramada beach resort to name a few. The westin resort and spa is now at the top of my list for best Florida hotels. It is a convention hotel, so its always busy through out the day, but you never feel lost in the crowd as their is plenty of space to roam free. The hotel sits literally on the sand, no walking over a bridge or crossing any streets, you walk from the pool area directly onto the beach! Beautiful! Prices are not more than any 4+ star hotel when it comes to parking and food. Do not expect 2 star prices at this hotel, as the exceptional service and a luxurious hotel does not come for free. They make their prices known, so if you do not want to pay for luxury and comfort stay at a lower end hotel, as a hotel of this caliber does not come cheap. After combing thru hundreds of traveler reviews I decided to give Westin a shot, and boy am I happy I did! I will suggest anyone considering staying here, you wont regret it.

The resort was nice. We appreciated it being pet friendly. The room was comfortable, although carpet was dirty and the sinks were clogged. (Maintenance addressed matter quickly.) The employees were pleasant and always courteous. The pool was excellent. Didn't care much for the casino since we're not gamblers, but my in-laws would love it. The steakhouse within the hotel was too pricey, but other eateries were fair to good depending on the place, reasonably priced and nice variety. Except, did not like the food at the Renegade. Air flow within hotel lobby was poor with heavy cigarette odor. Would have appreciated it more if the resort was closer to the beach. Overall, it was a good experience and I would recommend.